Aging is an inevitable part of life, but some processed snacks and drinks might be hastening the process.
If you’re concerned about premature wrinkles and fine lines, it could be beneficial to heed the advice of skincare professionals.
After consulting with dermatologists and doctors, we have identified three sugary, chemical-laden snacks and three beverages to avoid if you aim to preserve your skin’s firmness and prevent fine lines, dark spots, and a dry, hollow appearance.
3 Processed Snacks And 3 Beverages To Avoid To Prevent Premature Aging
1. Salty Potato Chips
Hydrating and moisturizing your skin is needed for a healthy complexion, and to age gracefully. With extremely high salt levels, potato chips are not beneficial in aiding the hydration of the skin. Eating them every day or in excess can cause wrinkles, cracks, and peeling, Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, founder of RenewMD and skin by Dr. Simran Sethi warns.
"Due to osmotic pressure, salt draws water out of cells, including skin cells, leading to dry skin," Sethi explains. "Potato chips are notoriously high in salt and also contain a sizable amount of sugar," she adds. When there is an excess of salt and glucose in the body, Sethi continues, it cross-links with collagen and elastin, "proteins that give our skin its firmness and elasticity." Elevated sugar and salt intake "hardens skin proteins, making your skin weaker, thinner and less hydrated," Sethi warns.
2. Breakfast Pastries
Breakfast pastries or other foods (like white bread) that come in sealed-tight plastic bags or wrappers come to mind when our experts were asked about foods to skip if you want to avoid oil and acne.
These ultra-processed foods, skincare expert Dr. Adrienne O’Connell, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics stresses, should be limited and skipped whenever possible if you frequently experience acne-prone or dull skin. "Refined carbohydrates (often found in junk food) spike our sugar levels sending oil production into overdrive," she explains. Saturated and trans fats found in "red meat, butter, pizza, cheese and cream," she adds, increase inflammation in the skin "which stimulates oil production."
Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, founder of Future Bright Dermatology, adds that foods that are "high glycemic index or glycemic load" (a.k.a. sugar, juices and soft drinks, refined grains, processed foods, cured meats) can "increase free androgens and insulin growth factor 1." This in turn, she notes will increase sebum production and allow for greasier skin.
3. Fried Foods
Similarly, inflamed, red skin, puffiness in your complexion and premature wrinkles can also be formed due to eating fried foods often. "The damaged skin proteins result in increased and premature wrinkles, sagging and discoloration of the skin," she stresses. Dr. Enrizza P. Factor, MD, dermatologist and writer at My Eczema Team agrees, and points out that "excess salt can be found in many popular potato chip and fried products."
Salt causes the body to "retain water and this leads to a swollen appearance," she concurs. Also, the cells "shrink and lead to dehydration," she continues. "A lack of water leaves the skin with wrinkles" and as a result, this accelerates aging. "Not only can greasy foods like potato chips cause wrinkles," Factor says, but they also "may be the culprit behind acne breakouts, too."
4. Sugary Sodas
While it's no secret that sodas aren't the healthiest drinks out there, the damage that they can cause when it comes to your skin is essential to be aware of, Dr. Cheryl Rosen, Director of Dermatology at BowTied Life, says. Diet sodas, she explains, often don't have sugar, but can still contain "chemicals that are harmful to the body," and even cause premature wrinkling, along with inflammation.
"Chemicals like phosphorus, potassium, and caffeine leach minerals from the bones and can damage the cells in the body," she adds. Kung agrees, and points out that "glucose and fructose [found in soda] link the amino acids present in the collagen and elastin that support the dermis, producing advanced glycation end products or AGEs." She notes that "glycation of amino acids make it difficult to repair collagen and elastin fibers, which contributes to faster wrinkling and a dehydrated complexion."
So, she would advise "against beverages that are high in sugars or made with high fructose corn syrup," such as sodas and other sweetened, fizzy beverages as they are "not healthy options" for "healthy aging skin." While water is the optimal beverage for your skin's needs, kombucha or seltzer water can still provide you with carbonation if you desire, without as much sugar or chemicals.
5. Processed Bottled Coffees
Many of us need coffee to start our day, but the worst kind you can choose for your skin is a processed, bottled type with loads of sugar. When you make coffee yourself at home, you can choose to sweeten it with a natural, healthy sweetener like monk fruit, or add a splash of a non-fat creamer, for example. Conversely, bottled coffees or lattes often have additives that dehydrate your skin, and as we've learned, this can mean faster wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots.
These kinds of coffees are "full of toxins that can leave the skin dry and dehydrated, especially when consumed excessively," Dr. Nadir Qazi, DO, a board-certified physician, cosmetic dermatology surgeon, and owner of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic, says. "The caffeine in coffee may bring the rush you want to get through your day, however, [this kind] can rob your skin of the elasticity your desire and reduce your skin's natural glow," he adds.
Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, senior clinical dietitian at UCLA medical center agrees, explaining that many processed coffee drinks have "added sugars, sweeteners, and fats in them." Think creams, syrups, flavorings, and colorings "such as caramel coloring in a bottled frappuccino, for example," she says. To avoid this, Hunnes and Qazi recommend giving black coffee a shot (no pun intended), as it will still give you a much-needed boost of energy, tastes like a stronger version of your favorite coffee beverage and remains a low-calorie option.
6. Energy Drinks
The skin around your eyes is delicate, and as we age, it's normal to lose moisture in this area. Rather than hydrating this skin, energy drinks can dehydrate it, Dr. Jose Mier, Founder of Heliotherapy Research Institute and skin health expert warns. Drinking these often can cause a sunken look— and ultimately mean darker under-eyes and more fine lines.
These beverages "force the brain to stay alert," he says, which leads to poor sleep and puffy eyes, and "thin under-eye areas are prone to hyperpigmentation and itchiness." Mier notes that caffeine often found in energy drinks inhibits the body's ability to remove fluid from tissues, and fluid builds up in tissues under the eyes— causing them to swell.
The caffeine also constricts the blood vessels in that area, he says, which increases blood flow and even more swelling. While some people may not be affected by caffeine, experts say, others are particularly sensitive to it. Like sodas, energy drinks have a diuretic (water-losing) effect, he stresses, making them a less-than-ideal drink of choice, even if you need a boost of caffeine. Thankfully, there are healthier choices that can help you not only stay awake, but keep your complexion looking radiant.
The Bottom Line
While having potato chips, butter, margarine, white bread or other refined carbs and sugary drinks once in a while is fine, Sethi and Factor note that eating them (or foods like them) every day or multiple times a week without drinking enough water can wreck havoc on your complexion.
Instead of foods with salt, Sethi suggests trying to "season foods with lemon, black or red pepper and dried herbs." Sethi adds that "over time, the body will stop craving higher levels of salt while remaining more hydrated." She also points out that "drinking at least 10 glasses of water (8 oz each) and of course, limiting consumption of such foods to once a week or less is the best way to achieve healthier looking skin."
Healthier Foods & Drinks To Prioritize For Supple Skin
To follow a healthy diet that will "optimize skin health," Factor says "you should consume foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. "The following foods all contribute to healthy, supple and hydrated skin, Factor says: "whole grains like wheat bread, brown rice, barley, millet, oatmeal and quinoa, beans." In addition, she lists: "legumes like black beans, navy beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas and lentils."
Factor concludes that vitamin C sources like "strawberries, red peppers, and grapefruit" are all no-fail snack choices if you want to prioritize your skin health, as well as leafy greens like "spinach and kale." These foods, she notes, are "rich in vitamin A, which is an antioxidant and nutrient that promotes healthy skin cell turnover." Good to know!
